Rolling mill guide

ABSTRACT

A guide for directing the work from one set of shape rolls to the next is constructed to be supported at its opposite ends by the pairs of rolls constituting the successive passes or sets. The guide is specially shaped at each end and is provided near the rear end with a collar which engages the surfaces of the two rolls of the succeeding set. This collar is mounted in a fixed but adjustable position so as to cause the surfaces of the guide at the front end to engage the cylindrical surfaces of the two rolls forming the immediately preceding set.

United States Patent [151 3,661,006 Massara 1 May 9, 1972 [54] ROLLING MILL GUIDE FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: John A. Massara, Pueblo, Colo. 901,944 7/ 1962 Great Britain ..72/227 [73] Assignee: C F 8: I Steel Corporation, Denver, Colo.

Przmary E.\'aminer-Charles W. Lanham [22] F'led: Sept 1969 Assistant Examiner-R. M. Rogers [21] Appl. No.2 858,945 Attorney-Pennie, Edmond, Morton, Taylor and Adams [52] U.S. Cl ..72/227, 72/250 [57] ABSTRACT 1321b 39/20 A guide for directing the work from one set of shape rolls to Field of Search 235 the next is constructed to be supported at its opposite ends by the pairs of rolls constituting the successive passes or sets. The [56] References C'ted guide is specially shaped at each end and is provided near the UNITED STATES PATENTS rear end with a collar which engages the surfaces of the two rolls of the succeeding set. This collar is mounted in a fixed y: s "7 53 but adjustable position so as to cause the surfaces of the guide ash um 2/ 7 at the front end to engage the cylindrical surfaces of the two rolls forming the immediately preceding set.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 9 I972 3, 6 61 ,0 O 6 SHEET 1 BF 3 INVENTOR 70AM ,4 MA -MP4 ATTORNEYS PATENTEDMAY 9 m2 S'iffU 3 BF 3 INVENTO J'o/M/ .4 MAss NEYS ATTO

ROLLING MILL GUIDE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Description of the Prior Art Crozier et al. US Pat. No. 2,040,979, 1963, and Bostwick US Pat. No. 2,791,139, 1957 disclose rolling mills with work guides extending between neighboring sets of shape rolls and mounted on the frame of the apparatus. Such guides cannot be used where the sets of shape rolls are spaced close together because there is no opportunity to support the guides on the frame of the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An attempt was made to roll one inch diameter rock bolts on a stretch mill. As the section of the work became smaller the bars would not enter succeeding passes satisfactorily and many cobbles resulted. It was impossible because of the space limitations to provide support for a guide on he frame of the mill, and a floating guide was developed which floats in its support at its opposite ends by the rolls of two adjacent sets. The guide is made of cast iron, and arranged to receive the bar from one set of rolls and lead it to the next succeeding set. This guide also serves as a stripper and is provided with a collar which bears against the surfaces of the rolls of the succeeding set. This collar is positioned lengthwise of the guide so as to cause the rear end portion of the guide to engage the surfaces of the two rolls of the immediately preceding set.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an end view of two sets of shape rolls, the axis of the rolls of the two sets being at right angles to each other;

FIG. 2 is a side view with respect to FIG. 1 in the plane indicated by the arrows 22;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but in the plane indicated by the arrows 33 of FIG. 1 which is at right angles to the plane 22;

FIG. 4 is principally a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3 but showing a small portion in elevation, and drawn to a greatly enlarged scale to show the details of the guide;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4 but also partly in elevation, these two views being at right angles to each other;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing the parts of the guide in perspective; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to the right-hand portion of FIG. 5 illustrating a modified construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show two adjacent sets of shape rolls which for convenience will be designated as the preceding or first set 7 and the succeeding set 8. Preceding set 7 comprises two cooperating rolls 9 and 10. Succeeding set 8 consists of cooperating rolls l1 and 12.

Each of these four rolls is cylindrical in shape and has a central circular stretch groove which as shown is semicircular in form. The rolls are all of the same diameter and the rolls of the respective sets cooperate with one another in a conventional manner to operate on a bar or workpiece 13 which as shown is in the form of a cylindrical rod. It may however be of tubular form or square or polygonal in cross section as well as a round rod.

The rolls rotate so as to cause the workpiece or bar 13 to move from left to right as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The rolls are driving in simultaneous rotation at the same speed by conventional mechanism (not shown). Roll 9 has a semicircular stretch groove 14 with cylindrical portions 15 and 16 on the opposite sides of the groove. The remaining rolls are of similar construction, roll 10 having a semicircular stretch groove 17 roll 11 a groove 18 and roll 12 a groove 19.

Rolls 9 and 10 are mounted on parallel rotating shafts 20 and 2l,'and rolls 1 l and 12 on parallel shafts 22 and 23. Shafts 22 and 23 are at right angles to shafts 20 and 21 and all four shafts are arranged in bearings in a conventional manner in a suitable rolling mill frame (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the shafts of the respective rolls are so mounted that the edges of rolls 11 and 12 of the succeeding set 8 are extremely close to the edges of rolls 9 and 10 of the preceding set 7 so that very little space is available for a guide to assist in the transfer of bar 13 from rolls 9 and 10 to rolls II and 12.

A special guide is provided which is indicated generally by reference numeral 24 (FIGS. 3-5) and which is illustrated in detail in FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 6 guide 24 has a central longitudinal passageway 25 which in this case is circular to correspond with the cross section of bar 13.

At its front end guide 24 is provided with a head portion 26 having side portions 27 and 28 with opposed curved symmetrical surfaces 27a, 27b and 28a, 28b (FIGS. 5 and 6) which flare or spread from the tip or nose to the base of the head. Surface 28b is not visible but is similar to surface 27b. The curvature of the surfaces of these side portions corresponds generally with the curvature of the surfaces of the two preceding shape rolls 9 and 10 (FIGS. 3 and 5).

The entrance 29 to passageway 25 is funnel-shaped as best shown in FIG. 4 to facilitate the entrance of the bar 13 into the guide. Midway of each of the side portions 27 and 28 there is a rib 30 which corresponds in shape and dimensions to the stretch grooves 14 and 17 of the preceding set of rolls 9 and 10.

Guide 24 is generally square in cross section from end to end aside from head portion 26 and aside from two spaced parallel projections 31 and 32 at the opposite of rear end of the guide. These projections are located on the opposite sides of passageway 25. Projections 31 and 32 each have curved opposite sides 33 and 34 which are symmetrical and flared or spread and the curvature of these sides corresponds generally to the curvature of the cylindrical rolls 11 and 12 of the succeeding set.

While it is desirable to have these curved surfaces engage the cylindrical surfaces of rolls l1 and 12 it is impracticable to make the length of guide 24 fit precisely the distance between the surfaces of rolls 9 and 10 of the preceding set and the sur faces of rolls 11 and 12 of the succeeding set. Therefore in order to position guide 24 in engagement with the surfaces of both sets of rolls a special winged collar 35 is provided which can be adjusted lengthwise of guide 24 so as to cause the front end of the guide to engage the surfaces of the preceding rolls 9 and 10, and place the wings 37 & 38 of the collar 35 in engagement with the surfaces of succeeding rolls 11 and 12.

Collar 35 has a square aperture 36 from front to rear which fits the square forward portion of guide 24 but leaves collar 35 slidable thereon. The two wing portions 37 & 38 on opposite sides of the guide are each provided with curved surface portions 39 & 40, at the center of each of which is a rib portion 41. The curvature of surfaces 39 and 40 and of rib portion 41 is in general similar to the curvature of the cylindrical portions 15 & l6 and circular grooves 18 & 19 of the succeeding rolls l1 and 12, but only a limited area is provided on each wing portion 37 & 38 which actually fits these circular surfaces (FIG. 4). This reduces the total frictional force between these relatively stationary and movable parts.

It is essential that collar 35 be slidable on guide 24 for two reasons, one because of the limited space between the preceding and succeeding sets of rolls 7 and 8, and second, to enable the guide to simultaneously engage the two sets of rolls at its opposite ends. In placing guide 24 in position collar 35 is slid to a position somewhat centrally lengthwise of the guide. Then the guide is placed in position and collar 35 is moved to the right as shown in FIGS. 2-5 until the desired engagement between the curved surfaces of wing portions 37 and 38 and rolls 11 and 12 is made and at the same time the curved surfaces of side portions 27 and 28 at the front end of the guide are in proper engagement with the cylindrical surfaces of the preceding rolls 9 and 10.

When collar 35 is in this position a clamping device 42 is tightened, which holds collar 35 in its adjusted position.

Clamp 42 is composed of two half sections 42 and 42a as shown in FIG. 6 which are interconnected by means of upper and lower bolts 43 and 44 shown in cross section in FIG. 4.

In order to limit the lengthwise movement of clamp 42 it is mounted on a portion 45 of reduced square cross section having shoulders at its opposite ends which limit the extent of movement of the clamp in each direction.

Referring now to the modified construction shown in FIG. 7 the clamping device consisting of the two clamps 42 and 420 which are held together by the screws 43 and 44 (FIG. 4) is positioned against the shoulder 46 at the left of reduced portion 45 and the clamping screws 43 and 44 are tightened permanently, it being unnecessary to shift the position of the clamping device within the reduced portion 45.

The adjustment of collar 35 lengthwise of guide 24 is accomplished by means of two adjusting bolts 47 and 48 which are received in screw threaded apertures 49 and 50 which extend through the respective clamps 42 and 42a. By applying a wrench to the heads of these bolts collar 35 can be adjusted so that the front end of guide 24 engages preceding rolls 9 and 10 and collar 35 also engages the succeeding rolls 11 and 12. Conventional means such as lock nuts (not shown) can be employed for maintaining bolts 47 and 48 in adjusted position.

1 claim:

1. in a rolling mill having successive sets of shape rolls spaced close together and constructed to shape a bar of stock, and including a stationary guide for leading said bar from a first set of said rolls to the immediately succeeding set,

the improvement in combination therewith wherein the support of said guide comprises means at the opposite ends of said guide for engaging the surfaces of the rolls of said succeeding set and said first set respectively.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which a member is mounted in lengthwise adjustable position near the rear end of the guide to serve as the means for engaging the surface of the rolls of the succeeding set, and means for maintaining said member in adjusted position on.the guide.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which the surfaces of the succeeding set of rolls are engaged by wing portions projecting at right angles from said member.

4. The combination of claim 2 in which the guide is provided at its rear end with spaced parallel projections each terminating in a pointed end and each having curved portions rearward of said point corresponding to the shape of the surfaces of the succeeding set of rolls.

5. A rolling mill guide for leading a bar of stock between first and second adjacent pairs of shape rolls, said bar leaving the outlet of the first pair of rolls and being lead into the intake of the second pair of rolls, said guide comprising an elongated structure having a tapering portion at each end for extending respectively into said outlet and intake, said tapering portions including means engaging arcuate portions of the respective pairs of rolls for supporting said guide.

6. A rolling mill guide according to claim 5 in which said elongated structure is provided with a collar adjacent one of said tapering portions which is slidable into contact with said second pair of shape rolls, and said elongated structure having means for positioning the collar thereon to maintain the front end of said guide in engagement with the shape rolls of said first pair.

7. A rolling mill guide according to claim 6 in which the positioning means is in the form of a clamping device and wherein the collar is adjustable with respect thereto by means of screw threaded members extending through tapped holes in the clamping device into engagement with the side of said collar.

8. A rolling mill guide according to claim 5 in which the rear end of the guide is provided with spaced parallel projections on opposite sides of said passageway, each of said projections having curved opposing surfaces corresponding to the shape of the two cylindrical rolls of the succeeding set. 

1. In a rolling mill having successive sets of shape rolls spaced close together and constructed to shape a bar of stock, and including a stationary guide for leading said bar from a first set of said rolls to the immediately succeeding set, the improvement in combination therewith wherein the support of said guide comprises means at the opposite ends of said guide for engaging the surfaces of the rolls of said succeeding set and said first set respectively.
 2. The combination of claim 1 in which a member is mounted in lengthwise adjustable position near the rear end of the guide to serve as the means for engaging the surface of the rolls of the succeeding set, and means for maintaining said member in adjusted position on the guide.
 3. The combination of claim 2 in which the surfaces of the succeeding set of rolls are engaged by wing portions projecting at right angles from said member.
 4. The combination of claim 2 in which the guide is provided at its rear end with spaced parallel projections each terminating in a pointed end and each having curved portions rearward of said point corresponding to the shape of the surfaces of the succeeding set of rolls.
 5. A rolling mill guide for leading a bar of stock between first and second adjacent pairs of shape rolls, said bar leaving the outlet of the first pair of rolls and being lead into the intake of the second pair of rolls, said guide comprising an elongated structure haVing a tapering portion at each end for extending respectively into said outlet and intake, said tapering portions including means engaging arcuate portions of the respective pairs of rolls for supporting said guide.
 6. A rolling mill guide according to claim 5 in which said elongated structure is provided with a collar adjacent one of said tapering portions which is slidable into contact with said second pair of shape rolls, and said elongated structure having means for positioning the collar thereon to maintain the front end of said guide in engagement with the shape rolls of said first pair.
 7. A rolling mill guide according to claim 6 in which the positioning means is in the form of a clamping device and wherein the collar is adjustable with respect thereto by means of screw threaded members extending through tapped holes in the clamping device into engagement with the side of said collar.
 8. A rolling mill guide according to claim 5 in which the rear end of the guide is provided with spaced parallel projections on opposite sides of said passageway, each of said projections having curved opposing surfaces corresponding to the shape of the two cylindrical rolls of the succeeding set. 